RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Passing of McGuire and Pinch reason for reflection



Some guys you meet only once and they are a friend for life.
That was my impression of a chance meeting with Al McGuire, one of the nicest basketball coaching personalities one would ever want to meet.
McGuire passed away recently at age 72 following a blood disorder that he had been battling for a number of years. One of his closest friends, United States Senator Herb Kohl, stated at the funeral Mass, "Al McGuire was a basketball coach and for 20 years he coached basketball like Beethoven wrote music, like Shakespeare wrote poetry and like Rembrandt painted."
Coach, plus: McGuire was more than a coach. His quick wit and friendliness were something to behold. He touched the lives of thousands as a coach and countless others with his mastery and genius in the broadcasting booth in later years.
Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., is where McGuire carved his name in notoriety. His 1977 team claimed the national championship.
It was during his glory days at Marquette that I met McGuire. His Marquette team was in the regional finals and playing at Kent State University.
One of my long-time friends, Doc Adams was a Marquette grad and he invited to me to make the trip to Kent.
In the locker room following Marquette's victory, Doc introduced me to McGuire. I was totally impressed with this man who was fascinating, upbeat and talented. His street-wise vocabulary was equally as impressive. He treated me like he had known me for a lifetime.
Doc related afterwards that he was introduced to McGuire by Dr. James Kollar, the former Farrell High School basketball standout, a dentist in the Hermitage area and a 1990 inductee into the Mercer County Hall of Fame.
Following graduation from Farrell, Dr. Kollar attended Marquette where he was a standout in basketball.
That was my only meeting with McGuire. However, I have seen and listened to him many times on his television broadcasts and each time I recall the meeting at Kent where I met a friend for life.
One of the clergymen presiding over the Mass said McGuire lived with gusto and died with dignity.
"We remember a man who taught us how to live and how to die," he said.
Herb Pinch dies: One of the founding fathers of the Mercer County sports scene, Herb Pinch, passed away Wednesday morning in Bradenton, Fla. He was 84.
A professional horseshoe pitcher in the Shenango Valley for many years, Herb traveled to Florida most every year to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates run through spring training drills during the exhibition season.
Herb not only loved the Pirates but he loved people in general and children were at the top of his list. A member of the Shriners, Herb often dressed up as a clown for kids' shows. He also served on many youth benefit committees.
He took ill this year and according to his son, Bob, of Sharon, he was battling pneumonia and some other health problems. He had been recuperating in a nursing home in Bradenton.
Herb will be missed, for he was known around the country for his prowess at pitching horseshoes.
Herb was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame in 1980. He was also inducted into the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame and Pennsylvania Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame.
Herb traveled throughout the country, participating in horseshoe tourneys. He performed many tricks with the shoes, one of which was tying a kitchen match to a peg and lighting it with one of his pitches.
Our deepest sympathy is extended to Herb's family and his many friends.

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